Fastening means for collapsible building constructions



l A.-R. FERGUSSON FASTENING MEANS FOR COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Aug. 6 1921 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 INNIHM I A. R. FERGUSSON FASTENING MEANS FOR COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Aug; 6, 1921 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 I v tol' aki?? Ettarney toning Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALAN R. FERGUSSON, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FASTENING MEANS FOR COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS.

Application filed August 6, 1921. Serial No. 490,330.

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALAN R. Fnaousson, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the citv of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Means for Collapsible Building Constructions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates generally to fastening means for collapsible building constructions, and more particularly to toy buildings which may be constructed by children.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide a fastening means which shall be simple and cheap to manufacture and one which may be repeatedly used without danger of breakage.

Another object has been to provide fasmeans which shall be easily and quickly attached to orrdetached from the building construction, and which shall securely hold the parts thereof in position.

Furthermore, my fastening means are so simple that they may be understood and applied by any child.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the principal form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the building construction, showing my device attached.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, front elevation of the building construction, showing my device attached.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the form of my invention which is used at the corners of building constructions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing this form of device applied.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevation showing my device applied.

Fig. 7 is .a sectional view of a locking means used in connection with my fastener.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the locking means shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a modified form of locking means.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9, showing different positions of these means.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a modified form of fastening and locking means.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 25, inclusive, it will be seen that my device comprises a fastening member in the form of a sheet metal stamping 20, which is formed with two return bends 21 and 22 in spaced relation with each other. The side walls 23 of each of these return bends are arranged at right angles to the body part 24: of the fastening member and in interspaced relation with each other, whereby loops 25 are provided. 26 and 27 represent the building material, which, in toy construction, is preferably made of fibre board. A slot 28 is provided in each of the boards 26 and 27 and at a definite distance from their abutting edges. The distance between the slots when the boards are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is substantially equal to the distance between the return bends 21 and 22 of the fastening member. The return bends are of such a length that they project through the slots 28 formed in the boards 26 and 27 slightly beyond the faces thereof. A fastening pin 29 is passed through the loop 25 formed in the return bends and thus serves to hold the fastening member in position. The length of the return bend and thickness of the board are such that the fastening pin 29 will exert a slight'pressure upon the face of the board, whereby the boards will be tightly held against the fastening member as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. I show a fastening member similar to that just described, except that it is designed for fastening boards together at right angles to each other, at the corners of the building construction. This fastening member 35 is provided with return bends 36 and 37 in like manner to the return bends of the member 20. The fastening member 35 is bent at right angles at 38 and is preferably provided with an indentation 39, which reinforces and strengthens the corner. The return bend 36 is preferably arranged a distance from the corner 38 which is substantially equal to the distance from the slot 40, formed in the board 41, to the edge thereof. Since the board 42 preferably overlaps the edge of the board 41, as shown in Fig. 5, the return bend 37 is arranged at a distance from the corner 38 which is substantially equal to the distance between the slot 43 and the edge of the board 42. minus the thickness of the board 41. Such an arrangement permits the slots to be cut in all boards at the same distance from the edge, the return bends in the fastening member 35 being so positioned that the edge of one board will lie flush with the face of the board which it overlaps.

It sometimes happens that the boards used in such a building construction are slightly thicker than intended, in which case it is ditlicult to insert the fastening )in through the loop of the return bend of t e fastening member. So as to overcome this difficulty, l have provided the means shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In these figures. 44 is the fastening member. 45 the return bend and 46 the fastening pin. The board 47 has a slot 48 through which the return bend 45 passes. The board is provided with an indentation 49 which is so positioned as to be in register with the head 50 of the pin 46. when the point 51 of the pin is at the lower edge of the slot 48. as shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 7. An indentation 52 is also provided in the same face of the board 47 and extends a. slight distance below the lower edge of the slot 48. It will be seen that when the fastening pin is inserted in the loop of the return. bend 45, that the head 50 of the pin will lie in the indentation 49 and that the point 51 of the pin will lie in the indentation 52. As the pin is forced downwardly, the curved or tapered bottom of the indentation 52 will cause the point of the pin to rise to the surface of the board, while the head thereof is passing through the indentation 49. A further motion of the pin serves to move the head and the lower part of the pin in engagement with the outer surface of the board. whereby the board will be forced tightly against the fastening member. and the head will become slightly imbeddcd into the surface of the board, so that it will be locked in position.

In the form of locking means shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. the return bend 55 is provided with a centrally arranged slot 56. The fastening pin in this form of the invention is provided with a right angled bent portion 57 at the end having the head. A stop hump 58 is also provided a short distance from the right angled bend whereby the axial movement of the pin is limited. A locking hump 59 is also provided in the locking pin and is formed in a direction opposite to the hump 58. Furthermore, the hump 59 is arranged so that it will be in register with the slot 56 when the hump 58 has reached the edge of the return bend. 55. Fig. 11 shows the position of the right angled bent portion 57 when the pin is being inserted. The bottom edges 60 of the slot 56 are so proportioned with respect to the size of the locking hump 59,

that in rotating the pin from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, it will offer resistance to the passage of the locking hump \Vhen this resistance is overcome by a continued rotation of the pin, the hump 59 will spring past the inner edge of the bottom 60 and thus be securely locked in position.

In Figs. 12 to 14, I show a modified form of locking device. In this form, 63 is the return bend which is provided with a slot 64. preferably arranged at the center thereof. A fastening pin 65 is provided, which is formed with a right angled bent portion 66, and a stop hump 67. The pin is also provided with a lock hump 68, which engages with the slot 64. The side walls of the slot are provided with V-shaped portions 69 arranged at one end of the slot and with parallel portions 70 arranged at the center of the slot. The space between the parallel portions 70 of the slot is slightly less than the width of the locking hump. and the space between the V-shaped rtions 69 is greater than the width 0 the hump, whereby the bum) may be easily inserted in between the V-s aped portions (Fig 13), and securely clamped in position between the parallel portions. when it is rotated to the locking position shown in Fig. 12.

It is obvious that while I have shown forms of my invention adapted for fastening together boards which lie insubstantially the same plane and also for fastening together those which are arranged at right angles to each other. it is obvious that the fastening member may have any desired angle. as for instance a 45 angle on the roof of a building. These and other modifications of the details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims; and, I do not, therefore. wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described. the form described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

l. Fastening means for collapsible building constructimis comprising a fastening member formed with looped return bends. and a fastening pin passing longitudinally through each of the loops.

2. The combination with boards having slots. of fastening means comprising a fastoning member formed with looped return bends. the bends being engageable with the slots of the boards. and a fastening pin passing longitudinally through each of the slots.

3. Fastening means for collapsible buildin constructions comprising a fastening member formed with return bends. the walls of the bends being at right angles to the body of the member and in interspaced relation with each other, and a fastening pin passing through the space between the side Walls of the bends.

4. Fastening means for collapsible buildingconstructions comprising a fastening member formed with looped return bends, and a fastening pin for each of the bends, each pin being provided with a hump for locking engagement with the bends of the fastening member.

5. Fastening means for collapsible building constructions comprising a fastening member formed with looped return bends, each bend being formed with a lateral slot through its looped portion, and a fastenin pin for each bend, each pin being forme with a, hump for engagement With the slotted portion of the bend.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 20 signed my name.

ALAN R. FERGUSSON. 

